U.S. patent application number 10/453885 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-23 for removable seal carrier for blowout preventer bonnet assembly.
Invention is credited to Berckenhoff, Michael W., Hemphill, Edward R., Holland, William R..
Application Number | 20040258470 10/453885 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33516905 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040258470 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hemphill, Edward R. ; et
al. |
December 23, 2004 |
Removable seal carrier for blowout preventer bonnet assembly
Abstract
A bonnet assembly for a blowout preventer uses a seal carrier
that is removable so as to allow for efficient and easy seal
replacement. The seal carrier has: a recess adapted to at least
partially embed a seal for sealing the bonnet assembly to a body of
the blowout preventer; and a first connecting rod coupled to and
extending from an inner surface of the seal carrier, where the
first connecting rod has a fastening structure proximal to a distal
end of the first connecting rod, where the fastening structure is
adapted to engage with a first fastening device, and where the seal
carrier is removable from the bonnet assembly when the first
fastening device is disengaged from the fastening structure.
Inventors: |
Hemphill, Edward R.;
(Houston, TX) ; Holland, William R.; (Houston,
TX) ; Berckenhoff, Michael W.; (Spring, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Jonathan P. Osha
ROSENTHAL & OSHA L.L.P.
1221 McKinney, Suite 2800
Houston
TX
77010
US
|
Family ID: |
33516905 |
Appl. No.: |
10/453885 |
Filed: |
June 3, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
403/361 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16B 2200/10 20180801;
E21B 33/062 20130101; Y10S 277/91 20130101; Y10T 403/587
20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
403/361 |
International
Class: |
F16B 001/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A seal carrier for a bonnet assembly of a blowout preventer,
comprising: a first recess adapted to at least partially embed a
seal for sealing the bonnet assembly to a body of the blowout
preventer; and a first connecting rod coupled to and extending from
an inner surface of the seal carrier, the first connecting rod
having a fastening structure proximal to a distal end of the first
connecting rod, wherein the fastening structure is adapted to
engage with a first fastening device, wherein the seal carrier is
removable from the bonnet assembly when the first fastening device
is disengaged from the fastening structure.
2. The seal carrier of claim 1, further comprising a second
connecting rod coupled to and extending from the inner surface of
the seal carrier, the second connecting rod having a fastening
structure proximal to a distal end of the second connecting rod,
wherein the fastening structure is adapted to engage with a second
fastening device, and wherein the seal carrier is removable from
the bonnet assembly when the second fastening device is disengaged
from the fastening structure.
3. The seal carrier of claim 1, wherein the fastening structure is
a circumferential groove.
4. The seal carrier of claim 1, wherein the fastening structure is
an aperture.
5. The seal carrier of claim 1, wherein the fastening device is a
locking pin.
6. A seal carrier for a bonnet assembly of a blowout preventer,
comprising: a first seal plate having: a first recess adapted to at
least partially embed a seal for sealing the bonnet assembly to a
body of the blowout preventer, a first connecting rod coupled to
and extending from an inner surface of the seal carrier, the first
connecting rod having a fastening structure proximal to a distal
end of the first connecting rod, wherein the fastening structure is
adapted to engage with a first fastening device, and wherein the
first seal plate is removable from the bonnet assembly when the
first fastening device is disengaged from the fastening structure,
a second seal plate having: a second recess adapted to at least
partially embed a second seal for sealing the bonnet assembly to
the body of the blowout preventer; and a seal plate coupling means
for coupling the second seal plate to the first seal plate.
7. The seal carrier of claim 6, wherein the seal plate connecting
means is a bolt.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to blowout
preventers used in the oil and gas industry. More particularly, the
present invention relates to a removable seal carrier for a blowout
preventer bonnet assembly.
[0003] 2. Background Art
[0004] Well control is an important aspect of oil and gas
exploration. When drilling a well in, for example, oil and gas
exploration applications, devices must be put in place to prevent
injury to personnel and equipment associated with drilling
activities. One such well control device is known as a blowout
preventer (BOP).
[0005] Blowout preventers are generally used to seal a wellbore.
For example, drilling wells in oil or gas exploration involves
penetrating a variety of subsurface geologic structures, or
"layers." Generally, each layer is of a specific geologic
composition such as, for example, shale, sandstone, limestone, etc.
Each layer may contain trapped fluids or gas at different formation
pressures, and the formation pressures increase with increasing
depth. The pressure in the wellbore is generally adjusted to at
least balance the formation pressure by, for example, increasing a
density of drilling mud in the wellbore or increasing pump pressure
at the surface of the well.
[0006] There are occasions during drilling operations when a
wellbore may penetrate a layer having a formation pressure
substantially higher than the pressure maintained in the wellbore.
When this occurs, the well is said to have "taken a kick." The
pressure increase associated with this "kick" is generally produced
by an influx of formation fluids (which may be a liquid, a gas, or
a combination thereof) into the wellbore. The relatively high
pressure "kick" tends to propagate from a point of entry in the
wellbore uphole (from a high pressure region to a low pressure
region). If the "kick" is allowed to reach the surface, drilling
fluid, well tools, and other drilling structures may be blown out
of the wellbore. These blowouts often result in catastrophic
destruction of the drilling equipment (including, for example, the
drilling rig) and in substantial injury or death to rig
personnel.
[0007] Because of the risk of such blowouts, blowout preventers are
typically installed at the surface or on the sea floor in deep
water drilling water arrangements so that "kicks" may be adequately
controlled and circulated out of the system. Blowout preventers may
be activated to effectively seal in a wellbore until active measure
can be taken to control a "kick." There are several types of
blowout preventers, the most common of which are annular blowout
preventers and ram-type blowout preventers.
[0008] Annular blowout preventers typically use annular elastomer
"packers" that may be activated by, for example, inflation, to
encapsulate drillpipe and well tools and completely seal the
wellbore. The second type of common blowout preventer is the
ram-type blowout preventer. Ram-type blowout preventers typically
are formed by a body and at least two bonnet assemblies disposed on
the body and opposite of each other with respect to a circumference
or perimeter of the body.
[0009] FIG. 1 shows an example of a ram-type blowout preventer 10.
The blowout preventer 10 is formed by a body 12 and oppositely
disposed bonnet assemblies 14. The blowout preventer 10 further
includes a plurality of side openings 20 that are each adapted to
be coupled to a bonnet assembly 14.
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a bonnet assembly 14 that may be secured to the
body 12 using a radial lock mechanism to allow for maintenance
access. A radial lock mechanism for blowout preventers is disclosed
in U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,247, which is assigned to the assignee of
the present invention and is incorporated herein by reference in
its entirety. FIG. 1 also shows bonnet assemblies 14 that are
coupled to the blowout preventer body 12 by a slidable coupling. A
slidable coupling is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,510,897, which is
assigned to the assignee of the present invention and is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Alternatively, in
other typical blowout preventer designs, bonnet assemblies are
generally secured to a body of the blowout preventer about the
circumference of the body with, for example, bolts.
[0011] Inside of a bonnet assembly is a piston actuated ram. The
rams may either be pipe rams, which, when activated, move to engage
and surround drillpipe and well tools to seal the wellbore, or
shear rams, which, when activated, move to engage and physically
shear any drillpipe or well tools in the wellbore. The rams,
whether pipe-type or shear-type, are typically located opposite of
each other and typically seal against one another proximate a
center of the wellbore in order to completely seal the
wellbore.
[0012] As with any tool used in drilling oil and gas wells, blowout
preventers must be regularly maintained. For example, a blowout
preventer uses high pressure seals between bonnet assemblies and
the body of the blowout preventer. FIG. 2 shows a prior art bonnet
assembly 100. The bonnet assembly 100 includes a face 103 that is
engaged with a corresponding face of a blowout preventer body
(e.g., 12 in FIG. 1) when the bonnet assembly 100 is installed on
the blowout preventer. The bonnet face 103 includes a face seal 105
that seals the high pressure inside the blowout preventer body
(e.g., 12 in FIG. 1) and the bonnet assembly 100.
[0013] The high pressure seals in many instances are elastomer
seals. The elastomer seals must be regularly checked to ensure that
the elastomer has not been cut, permanently deformed, or
deteriorated by, for example, chemical reaction with the drilling
fluid in the wellbore. Moreover, it is often desirable to replace
seals to ensure that the bonnet will be properly sealed in the
event of a kick. Therefore, it is important that the blowout
prevent bonnet include components that are easily removable so that
seals may be easily accessed, checked, maintained, and
replaced.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0014] According to one aspect of one or more embodiments of the
present invention, a seal carrier for a bonnet assembly of a
blowout preventer comprises: a first recess adapted to at least
partially embed a seal for sealing the bonnet assembly to a body of
the blowout preventer; and a first connecting rod coupled to and
extending from an inner surface of the seal carrier, where the
first connecting rod has a fastening structure proximal to a distal
end of the first connecting rod, where the fastening structure is
adapted to engage with a first fastening device, and where the seal
carrier is removable from the bonnet assembly when the first
fastening device is disengaged from the fastening structure.
[0015] According to one aspect of one or more embodiments of the
present invention, a seal carrier for a bonnet assembly of a
blowout preventer comprises a first seal plate and a second seal
plate. The first seal plate has: a first recess adapted to at least
partially embed a seal for sealing the bonnet assembly to a body of
the blowout preventer; and a first connecting rod coupled to and
extending from an inner surface of the seal carrier, where the
first connecting rod has a fastening structure proximal to a distal
end of the first connecting rod, where the fastening structure is
adapted to engage with a first fastening device, and where the
first seal plate is removable from the bonnet assembly when the
first fastening device is disengaged from the fastening structure.
The second seal plate has: a second recess adapted to at least
partially embed a second seal for sealing the bonnet assembly to
the body of the blowout preventer; and a seal plate coupling means
for coupling the second seal plate to the first seal plate.
[0016] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the following description and the appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a prior art blowout preventer.
[0018] FIG. 2 shows a prior art blowout preventer bonnet
assembly.
[0019] FIG. 3 shows a blowout preventer bonnet assembly in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the blowout preventer
bonnet assembly shown in FIG. 3.
[0021] FIG. 5 shows a cut-away top view of a blowout preventer
bonnet assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0022] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional blowup view of a portion of
the cut-away top view shown in FIG. 5.
[0023] FIG. 7 shows a side cross-section view of a portion of a
blowout preventer bonnet assembly in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 8 shows a side cross-section view of a portion of a
blowout preventer bonnet assembly in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a blowout
preventer having a bonnet assembly with a removable seal carrier
(also referred to as "removable seal plate"). Seals for sealing the
bonnet assembly to a body of the blowout preventer are mounted on
the removable seal carrier, where the removable seal carrier is
connected to a load block (or mating portion) of the bonnet
assembly with a connector that is securable by a fastening device
inserted into the load block (or mating portion) and through an
aperture in the connector.
[0026] The use of a removable seal carrier as shown and discussed
in the embodiments of the present invention below aids drilling
personnel to maintain a blowout preventer by allowing them to
replace, in addition to other blowout preventer components,
consumable seals that seal a bonnet assembly to a body of the
blowout preventer with minimal time, effort, and resources.
[0027] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary seal carrier 204 for a blowout
preventer bonnet assembly 200 in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention. The seal carrier is disposed on a proximal
end of a ram block attachment portion 202 of the bonnet assembly
200. About the perimeter of the removable seal carrier 204 are
mounted seals 208 for effectively sealing the bonnet assembly 200
to a side opening (not shown) of a body (not shown) of the blowout
preventer. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
removable seal carrier 204 may be used to mount any number and type
of seals 208.
[0028] In an inner perimeter (not shown) of the removable seal
carrier 204 are located seals (not shown) for sealing against a ram
block actuator piston 206. These seals will be described in more
detail below with respect to FIG. 4.
[0029] As will be described further below, the removable seal
carrier 204 is secured to the remaining portion of the bonnet
assembly 200 with fastening devices 210 that extend into a load
block portion 212 of the ram block attachment portion 202 of the
bonnet assembly 200.
[0030] FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the removable seal carrier
204 shown in FIG. 3. The removable seal carrier 204 includes a
connecting means 214 for connecting the removable seal carrier 204
to the load block portion 212 of the bonnet assembly 200. The
connecting means 214 extend from an inner surface of the seal
carrier 204. In one embodiment of the present invention, the
connecting means 214 are connecting rods. Moreover, as shown in
FIG. 4, the connecting means 214 may protrude from and be
permanently affixed to the removable seal carrier 204. However, in
one or more other embodiments of the present invention, the
connecting means 214 may not be permanently affixed to the
removable seal carrier 204.
[0031] In some embodiments, such as the one shown in FIG. 4, the
fastening devices 210 are locking pins that are inserted into the
load block 212 and engage with the connection means 214. This
engagement between the fastening devices 210 and the connecting
means 214 is further described below with reference to FIGS.
6-8.
[0032] The removable seal carrier 204 is adapted so as to allow
seals 208 to be positioned around a recess 250 of the removable
seal carrier 204. Moreover, in one or more embodiments of the
present invention, a seal spacer 216 may be positioned in between
seals 208.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 4, the seal carrier 204 also includes a
center opening 205 to enable the ram block actuator piston 206 to
move in and out of the bonnet assembly 200. The center opening 205
includes an inner perimeter 207, on which inner seals 218 and an
optional seal spacer 220 are be positioned. The inner seals 218
seal the outer surface of a portion of the ram block actuator
piston 206 against the high pressure of a kick.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 4, the load block portion 212 of the bonnet
assembly 200 may be provided with apertures 222 adapted to receive
and at least partially house the connecting means 214. Moreover,
the load block portion 212 is provided with apertures 224 adapted
to receive and at least partially house fastening devices 210.
[0035] Although not shown in FIG. 4 (but discussed below with
reference to FIGS. 5-8), when the removable seal carrier 204 is
fastened and secured to the bonnet assembly 200, the fastening
devices 210 extend into the load block portion 212 and engage with
a locking (or "fastening") structure 226 provided in the connecting
means 214. In the embodiment shown, the locking structure 226
comprises a conferential groove near the distal end of the
connecting means 226. When the fastening devices 210 are in an
unfastened positioned, or otherwise disengaged from the load block
portion 212 of the bonnet assembly 200, the connecting means 214
affixed to the removable seal carrier 204 may be slid out from the
apertures 222, thereby allowing for the removal of the removable
seal carrier 204 from the bonnet assembly 200.
[0036] A removable seal carrier 204 in accordance with one or more
embodiments of the present invention can be easily removed from the
bonnet 200 for maintenance and replacement. Removal of the
fastening devices 210 will uncouple the connection means 214 from
the bonnet 200, and the seal carrier 204 can then be removed for
maintenance.
[0037] Further, in one or more embodiments of the present
invention, the removable seal carrier 204 may be implemented with a
flat plate with machined recesses for mounting the seals 208. In
such embodiments, the connecting means 214 may be integral with the
plate and extend from a flat surface of the flat plate. The flat
plate mates against a flat surface of the load block portion 212
such that fastening devices 210 may extend into the load block
portion 212 and through apertures 226 in connecting means 214 that
are inserted into the load block portion 212.
[0038] FIG. 5 shows a top view of a cut-away of an exemplary
removable seal carrier 204 in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention. Inner seals 218 are shown positioned in recessed
surface 207 of the seal carrier 204 and axially held in place
between a lip 211 of the seal carrier 204 and the bonnet 200. The
inner seals 218 seal the ram block actuator piston 206 against the
high pressure experienced during a kick.
[0039] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional blowup view of a portion of
the top view cut-away shown in FIG. 5. The removable seal carrier
204 has a recess 250 for the positioning of seals 208 and a seal
spacer 216. The seals 208 and seal spacer 216 are axially retained
in place between a lip 251 of the seal carrier 204 and a mating
surface 230 on the load block 232 of the bonnet assembly (200 in
FIG. 5).
[0040] The seal carrier 204 also includes a flat surface 228 that
is mated against a mating surface 230 of a load block 232 (e.g.,
load block portion 212 shown in FIG. 4). The connecting means
comprises at least one connecting rod 234 that is used to secure an
engagement between the mating surfaces 228, 230. As shown in FIG.
6, a longitudinal axis of the connecting rod 234 is substantially
perpendicular to a plane of flat surface 228 and flat surface
230.
[0041] In some embodiments, the seal carrier 204 includes a female
threaded connector 229 so that the connecting rod 234, which may
include a male threaded connector id, may be threadingly engaged
with the seal carrier 204. Other methods of coupling a connecting
rod 234 to a seal carrier 204 (e.g., welding) may be used without
departing from the scope of the invention. Those having ordinary
skill in the art will be able to devise other methods for coupling
a connecting rod to a seal carrier.
[0042] The connecting rod 234 is provided with an groove 240
adapted to engage with a fastening device. In FIG. 6, the fastening
device comprises at least one locking pin 238. When the seal
carrier 204 is connected to the bonnet (200 in FIG. 5), the portion
of the connecting rod 234 provided with groove 240 is positioned
inside the load block 232 of the bonnet (200 in FIG. 5) such that
the locking pin 238 may extend into the load block 232 and engage
with groove 240 of the connecting rod 234.
[0043] As shown in FIG. 6, the aperture 242 adapted to receive and
at least partially house the connecting rod 234 intersects an
aperture 248 adapted to receive and at least partially house the
locking pin 238. More particularly, a longitudinal axis of aperture
242 is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of
aperture 248.
[0044] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6, in one or more embodiments of
the present invention, the seal carrier 204 may be used with a
bonnet (200 in FIG. 5) that includes a radial lock 246 and a radial
lock displacement device 236. This type of bonnet locking mechanism
is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,247, which is assigned to the
assignee of the present invention and has been incorporated by
reference herein. In such embodiments, the locking pin 238 extends
through a portion of the radial lock displacement device 236 into
the load block 232 of the bonnet (200 in FIG. 5) and the aperture
242 and through the groove 240 in the connecting rod 234.
[0045] FIG. 7 shows a side cross-section view of a portion of an
exemplary seal carrier 204 in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention. The seal carrier 204 is coupled to a load block
232 of a bonnet (200 in FIG. 5). A connecting rod 234 is coupled to
the seal carrier 204 (e.g., threaded connection), and it extends
into an aperture 242 in the load block 232. FIG. 7 shows one
embodiment of an engagement between a connection rod 234 and a
locking pin 238 that is positioned in the load block 234.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 7, the aperture 248 for the locking pin 238
partially intersects the aperture for the connecting rod 234. Thus,
when inserted, the upper half of the locking pin 238 engages with
the load block 232 of the bonnet (200 in FIG. 5) and the lower half
of the locking pin 238 engages with the circumferential groove 240
in the connecting rod 234.
[0047] In some embodiments, it may be desirable for the locking pin
238 to be located substantially on the axial centerline 233 of the
load block 232, when the locking pin 238 in inserted into the load
block 232. In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 7, the aperture 248 for
the locking pin 238 is positioned on the axial centerline 233 of
the load block 232. Thus, the aperture 242 for the connecting rod
234 must be located slightly above or below (below in FIG. 7) the
axial centerline 233 of the load block 232. In this configuration,
the locking pin 238 may be inserted at the axial centerline 233 of
the load block 232 and engage with both the load block 232 and the
connecting rod 234.
[0048] When maintenance or inspection of a seal is required, the
locking pins (e.g. 238 in FIG. 7) associated with the seal carrier
may be removed from the grooves (e.g., 240 in FIG. 7) by pulling
them out of the apertures (e.g., 248 in FIG. 7) in the load block
232. Once the connecting rods (e.g., 234 in FIG. 7) are uncoupled
from the locking pins, the seal carrier 204 may be removed from the
bonnet.
[0049] FIG. 8 shows another exemplary embodiment of a seal carrier
404 in accordance with the present invention. The seal carrier 404
includes two seal plates, a first seal plate 405 and a second seal
plate 406. The seal plates 405, 406 are coupled together to form
the seal carrier 404.
[0050] The first seal plate 405 is coupled to the load block 432 of
the bonnet (not shown) with a connection rod 434. A first sealing
element 411 is positioned in a recess 424 of the first seal plate
405, and the first sealing element 411 is axially held in place by
the load block 432 and a lip 425 of the first seal plate 405.
[0051] A second seal plate 406 is coupled to the first seal plate
405 with a seal plate connecting means 423. In the embodiment shown
in FIG. 8, the seal plate connection means 423 is a bolt that is
coupled to the second seal plate 406 and threaded into the first
seal plate 405. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the seal plate
connecting means 423 is coupled to the second seal plate 406 by a
bolt recess 421 in the second seal plate 406. A seal plate
connecting means 423 may be oriented in a opposite direction, so
that it is coupled to the first seal plate 405 by a bolt recess and
to the second seal plate 406 by a threaded connection. Also, other
seal plate connecting means (e.g., clips) may be devised without
departing from the scope of the invention.
[0052] A second sealing element 412 is positioned in a recess 426
of the second seal plate 406, and the second sealing element 412 is
axially held in place by the lip 425 of the first seal plate 405,
and a lip 427 on the second seal plate 406.
[0053] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the connecting rod 434
includes an aperture 440 in which a locking pin 438 may be
positioned. The connecting rod 434 is inserted into an aperture 442
in the load block 432 that is positioned substantially along the
axial centerline 433 of the load block 432. The locking pin 438 is
inserted into the load block 432 and through the aperture 440 in
the connecting rod 434.
[0054] As shown in FIG. 8, neither the connecting rod 434 nor the
seal plate connecting means 423 penetrated all the way through a
seal plate. This arrangement enables the use of connecting rods and
seal plate connecting means, without the need for additional
sealing mechanisms to seal the penetrations through the seal
plates.
[0055] Although not shown in cross-sections of FIGS. 7 and 8, it
will be understood that a seal plate in accordance with some
embodiments will include a center opening (see, e.g., 205 in FIG.
4) and the associated seals.
[0056] Those skilled in the art will understand that, in one or
more other embodiments of the present invention, the seal plates
may be used to mount any number and type of seals. Further, those
skilled in the art will understand that additional seal plates may
be coupled to the first and second seal plates 405, 406 shown in
FIG. 8. The invention is not intended to be limited by the number
of seal plates used in any particular embodiment.
[0057] Also, those skilled in the art will understand that the
embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 are
shown without particular bonnet assembly components for purposes of
illustrative clarity. For example, it will be understood that a
seal plate in accordance with some embodiments will include a
center opening (see, e.g., 205 in FIG. 4) and the associated seals
so that a ram block actuator piston may move into and out of the
bonnet.
[0058] Advantages of the present invention may include one or more
of the following. In one or more embodiments of the present
invention, because a BOP bonnet assembly seal carrier is secured to
the bonnet assembly by fastening devices that can be easily
removed, the seal carrier is removable from the bonnet assembly,
thereby allowing for quick, easy, and efficient seal replacement
and/or maintenance.
[0059] In or more embodiments, because a seal carrier of a BOP
bonnet assembly is fastened in the bonnet assembly by easily
removable a small number of fastening devices, the seal carrier may
be removed without the need for removing multiple components
between the seal carrier and a portion mated to the seal
carrier.
[0060] In one or more embodiments, because a seal carrier of a BOP
bonnet assembly is easily removable, seals for sealing the bonnet
assembly to a body of the BOP are not limited to elastomer, or
similar, seals. In one or more embodiments, because a seal carrier
is easily removable from a bonnet assembly of a BOP, rams may be
efficiently replaced and/or maintained.
[0061] In one or more embodiments, the invention includes one or
more seal plates that do not have any penetrations though the seal
plates. Advantageously, these seal plates will not require
additional sealing that would accompany the leak paths created by a
penetration.
[0062] While the invention has been described with respect to a
limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having
benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments
can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention
as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should
be limited only by the attached claims.
* * * * *